I fell in love with romance novels at an early age. I’d raid my mom’s bookshelves and read everything from Catherine Marshall’s Christy to The Legacy of Lilian Parker by Leslie Holden.
The novels were magical and fun. I still remember some of the lines. In one Oregon Trail romance, the hero told the heroine, “Don’t look at me like you want kissing.” As an elementary schooler, I wanted to know what that expression looked like. Did the heroine have her lips smooshed together and eyes closed? Was she fluttering her eyelashes like Minnie Mouse? If I made that face, would I get kissed?
As a high schooler, my standards might have been a little unrealistic from reading about such swoon-worthy heroes. A boy couldn’t just say, “Wanna hang out?” If he liked me, he needed to chase me across a football field and declare his undying devotion through a megaphone. Most likely in the rain.
At some point I finally learned that love is what my husband calls “friendship set on fire.” I experienced heartache, but I also got to have a romance complete with movie theater proposal, horse drawn carriage, and Hawaiian honeymoon.
After all that, I still love my romance novels. And here are ten reasons why.
1.) The Meet-Cute: This is the moment when the couple first meets. It has to be memorable because these two characters have to remember each other. Will it be love at first sight like it seemed to be in Then There Was You by Kara Isaac…before she threw up on his shoes? Or will you be able to see the train wreck coming, such as Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano, where the heroine is complaining to the hero about the hero, only she doesn’t know it’s him. These scenes set up a whole dynamic and make us long for more.
2.) The Witty Banter: Oh, it makes my toes curl. It’s like we get to be in on all the inside jokes, and they have us rooting for the couple that should so obviously be together even though they try to deny it. One of the best examples comes from Tamara Leigh’s author heroine in Stealing Adda. She’d just been complimented by her editor on her insight into her male character before he kissed her and claimed it wouldn’t happen again. She was just like, “My insight into male character tells me that it will.”
3.) The Chemistry: Whether they are talking or not, these characters come alive around each other in every way–physically, mentally, spiritually. The other person’s presence changes their behavior because they are so aware of what the other is thinking and feeling. I loved this about Bethany Turner’s Wooing Cadie McCaffrey where Will’s whole intent is to win his girlfriend back by using scenes from her favorite movie. She responds in a less then wooed way that only she could.
4.) The Tropes: These give us a sense of security, and we all have our faves. Some like cowboys, some billionaires, some secret babies, and MANY like marriage of convenience, which even has it’s own abbreviation of MOC now . My personal fave is hidden identities a la Seaside Letters by Denise Hunter or The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell. This trope also makes You’ve Got Mail and Hitch my favorite movies. It’s like that Friends episode: “They don’t know that we know they know we know.” So much fun.
5.) The Setting: Many romance series are set in small towns that make the reader want to live there or at least feel like they have traveled there. Pepper Basham has a thing for Appalachia. Robin Lee Hatcher sets most her stories in Idaho. Kristin Billerbeck likes California. And if you post a meme about a baby goat, most contemporary Christian romance readers are going to think of Melissa Tagg’s Walker family. The setting adds charm to the experience.
6.) The Supporting Characters: A colorful cast can offer comic relief and even try to steal the show. I loved this about Sarah Monzon’s upcoming Molly who’s heroine is part of a sewing club that dies her hair pink. Then there was Deeanne Gist’s A Bride in the Bargain where an older woman lost her dentures to an overeager seagull, and, for the rest of the story, she’s smacking her gums. These supporting characters keep romance novels from ever having a dull moment.
7.) The First Kiss: First comes the almost kiss and the interrupted kiss. I patiently hold my breath for the real thing, and it’s like I’m reliving the moment where I fell in love with my husband. My favorite kiss ever can be found in Betsy St. Amant’s All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes, which involves the heroine hanging onto a doorknob to keep from getting swept away by passion.
8.) The Sacrificial Love: The best love stories show a love that’s more than just a kiss, chemistry, and witty banter. These are the ones that clog your throat with tears because it hurts to see a hero willing to let go of a heroine for her own good. I seriously cried so much on my pillow while reading Rekindled by Tamara Alexander that my husband thought I’d fallen asleep and drooled. These kind of stories make us all want to be better people.
9.) The Happily Ever After: You don’t have to worry about recovering from a tragic ending when you read romance. It’s pretty much a requirement that the guy will get the girl and all will be right in the world. Even where there’s more at stake, like SIX KIDS in The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson, you know when it’s over, you’re going to feel good and close the book with a happy sigh.
10.) The Bigger Picture: If God is love, you can’t leave him out of a love story. He shows up in all the best romances and helps me understand a little bit more about how I’m already loved more than I can even imagine. This is what had me reading the prologue to Becky Wade’s My Stubborn Heart out loud to multiple people even though I couldn’t do so without crying. This is how Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck made a relationship with God seem so much more real than a fairy tale. This is the stuff that changes lives.
These are all things that I think about when writing my own stories. I want to make reading them as impactful for you as my reading has been for me. You’re welcome to come chat about this and more in my facebook group, or you can continue this discussion in the comments section by answering the question below.
What do you love most about Christian romance?
Angela Ruth Strong survived breast cancer, works as a flight attendant, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho.
A great post thank you.
Wow!! Great post! One thing I love about Christian romance is the faith element. God woven through the pages. It HAS to be more than just a quick prayer, or a prayer before meals. I also like that the authors show that while no one is perfect, God loves us anyway, and if we trust Him, things will work out. Just like real life!
Besides the romance And enjoy the faith element. Before I started writing I told people reading a Christian romance was often like a devotional.
Yes to all of them! My favorites are the witty banter, the happy ending, and the faith element. These are essential in any romance.
Wonderful post! I think I love Christian romance because so many of the stories point to the love God has for us, and I also enjoy seeing people fall in love and struggle with not giving into their physical attraction like they do in non-Christian romance. If a relationship becomes all about sex then its not really real, its just based on lust which will eventually fade. I think Christian romance focuses more on the long-term aspect of relationships, versus the instant gratification of physical satisfaction.
Thanks! I had fun writing it.
And they all lived hopefully ever after. <3 I love it too.
That’s a great way to look at it. <3
For sure. <3
That makes it both fun and fulfilling!!! Definitely essential.
Thanks for sharing this article! I enjoy romance for these reasons too—it’s so nice to know I’m not going to be traumatized at the end, and I LOVE the witty banter too. Thanks, Angela!
You’re great at the witty banter, as well! Looking forward to book #2.
Angela,
I really enjoyed reading this post! I loved many of the books you commented on! I also love hearing all about yours and Jim’s sweet romance! You two are such a tender loving couple!
Thanks, Marylin. As you know, it’s fun to be romanced.
I like the faith, romance, and feeling of hope I get when I read the book.
Hope makes all the difference.
For decades, my go-to read was mysteries, crime procedurals and thrillers. Then, a few years ago, I came across Christian romantic suspense. My gateway drug was Irene Hannon’s Men of Valor series. From there, CCR was just a step away. I loved seeing relationships develop in the context of faith. I loved the happy endings. I’m a fan of MOC because it shows men who have a clue about sacrificial love and women who treat them with respect. Then you get to enjoy friendship growing out of that respect and sacrifice and then romance out of that friendship.
As an actor and author, I love what supporting characters and witty banter bring to the telling of the story. So many other of your points ring true for me as well, but those are the main ones.
Oh, and tell your hubby that I send him megaprops and fist bumps for raising the bar. We need more men like him!
I will definitely give my hubby a fist bump for you. As for romantic suspense, you should try out books by my buddy Lisa Phillips. Is that what you write too?
No, my WIP is more general fiction, Christian world view, a bit of supporting cast romance, some sci-fi. Main theme is the main character’s recovery from depression after the death of his twin brother. Still trying to figure out if this is a stand-alone or worth more exploration.
I enjoy the clean romance but mostly the faith elements. Thank you for sharing.
Firstly I love you included Historical books in your list I remember Stealing Adda. I also like the smaller towns partly cos I relate better to them. Of course smaller towns here and in America are different and I know they are different in different states too. Like on the East Coast towns are very close together. In places like Montana, Wyoming there is more distance between towns and larger towns. (More like here.) I am in a small town with the regional city an hour away.
What I like about Christian Romance is that they are clean books. They also respect what God intended in a relationship. I am not saying its not got real issues like dealing with the consequences of doing the wrong thing. They often do and deal with healing and forgiveness.
These are some great reasons to love Christian romance novels. One of my favorite things is the spiritual lesson. I love seeing how the author uses the story to teach about God’s character or His love for us.
Ooh. Sounds intense. Best wishes getting that figured out!
The story wouldn’t be the same without it!
I’m in the Pacific Northwest, so we are more spread out here too, though my town is one of the fastest growing in America. I usually read contemporary, but some historical authors can intrigue me. As for dealing with real issues with healing and forgiveness? Those are the life-changers right there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts from another hemisphere. <3
Yes! Especially the lessons I don’t see coming because they identify one of my own blind spots!
There is always a strong element of Faith as they are falling in love.
That was a wonderful list! I have to admit I usually look for HEAs, my favorite tropes, witty/clever/humorous (but not slap-stick) dialogue, and the setting/era preference that suits my mood at the moment. For me, secondary characters can make or break my enjoyment, and sacrificial love totally depresses me (so I try to avoid those). Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers was the last sacrificial love novel I remembering reading. It ripped my heart out and I told myself, “never again.” Lol. Perhaps not what the author intended. And the method in which an author weaves God’s message of hope, love, and His attributes like His steadfastness and trustworthiness also touch me differently. You’ve given me more thoughts to consider as I jump into my next book. Oh! And l have The Cubicle Next Door in my tbre-r pile. I need to dig it out. :) Thanks!
A strand of three cords is not easily broken. <3
I agree that sacrificial love romances are tough. I loved Redeeming Love, but it tore my heart out too. I think you’ll really enjoy The Cubicle Next Door. It’s unique and has a fun twist. I want to read it again now!